The common cold and flu are believed by many to be caused by exposure and susceptibility to a variety of common viruses. Yet not everyone catches a cold or flu when he or she is exposed to such viruses.

"It is time to lay to rest the notion that germs jump into people and cause diseases," says Dr. Cheraskin, a physician based in Birmingham, Alabama.

"Three healthy people can breathe the same germ at the same moment," he notes.

"One may develop pneumonia, another sniffle his way through a cold, and the third goes unscathed.".

Dr. Cheraskin believes it is our own immune system, not the virus that determines whether or not we get a cold.

The holistic approach to treating a cold is to boost the immune system and allow the body to cleanse itself.

It is not generally recommended to take anti-histamines as they dry up the mucous membranes. It is better to allow the secretions that contain the virus to flow out of the body rather than trying to block them.

According to traditional Chinese medicine there are two basic types or stages of colds. They have different symptoms and different treatments.

The wind-cold type often occurs with a change in weather or when one is exposed to wind and cold. This is why you should always cover up when riding a bike even though you may not feel cold and never sleep in a draft.

The symptoms could include chills, fever, no sweating, headache, stiff neck, body ache and clear copious nasal discharge. This is often the first stage of a cold and it is advisable to sweat it out. Cook one ounce of sliced ginger and two ounces of scallions in water for twenty minutes. Drink the liquid hot and go to bed, cover up and sweat it out.

The wind-heat type of cold is characterised by high fever, some chills, sore throat, cough, body ache and yellow nasal discharge. Drinking plenty of mint and dandelion teas are recommended.

Consult a qualified traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for further treatment.

Here are some more suggestions on how to prevent and treat the common cold.

Take garlic.

Also called the poor man's medicine, garlic is known to have healing powers as potent as its odour. Fresh and powdered garlic have antibiotic effects, even controlling bacteria resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

In other medical studies garlic has been proven to be effective against flu viruses. Through the centuries people have used garlic to treat colds, coughs, sore throats and lung ailments including asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Here is how to make garlic oil, according to Dr. Elson Haas, author of 'Staying Healthy with the Seasons'.

Peel and chop enough cloves to fill half of a quart jar. Cover with cold-pressed olive oil to about one inch above the garlic and place in a sunny window for five to seven days, shaking once a day. Then strain it through cheese-cloth.

The garlic oil can be used to add to salad dressing, rubbed on a congested chest, or even rubbed on the soles of the feet as an early cold remedy, according to Dr. Haas.

Instead of coffee drink green tea.

The Chinese often drink strongly brewed tea to get rid of colds or headaches.

Avoid dairy and wheat products. These are often described as mucus- producing foods and could aggravate respiratory infections and phlegm. Most people who avoid dairy products while recovering from a cold have less nasal congestion. Sip two mouthfuls of fresh lemon juice three times a day. Lemon helps dissolve and eliminate excess mucous in the respiratory system.

Get extra rest.

Rest is important to provide your body with the extra energy needed to fight the infection. Drink plenty of liquids.

Water, herbal teas and soup help to stimulate the cleansing process. Also, avoid congesting foods. A cold is often the body's attempt to rid itself of accumulated waste so avoiding meats, fats, and other foods which impair elimination can speed recovery.

Mary Bove. N.D., chair of Botanical Medicine at Bastyr College, in Seattle, Washington recommends the following herbs for general use in the treatment of colds and flu.

Elderflower - immune-stimulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal and diaphoretic, it is a good all-purpose herb for the flu and common cold.

Elecampagne - a soothing, relaxing yet stimulating expectorant for irritating coughs and bronchial irritations.

Yarrow - calming to an upset digestive tract, it is also an anti-inflammatory. These qualities make yarrow particularly useful in influenza and respiratory infections associated with fever, malaise and decreased appetite.